Peter (of Russia) I

Tsar of Russia (1682–1721) and emperor (1721–5), born in Moscow, Russia, the son of Tsar Alexey and his second wife Natalia Naryshkin. He became accomplished in mechanics, with an abiding interest in military and naval technology. He was joint tsar with his mentally retarded half-brother, Ivan, under the regency of their sister, Sophia (1682–9). In 1697–8 he travelled to Germany, Holland, England, and Habsburg Vienna, his chief aim being to recruit foreign technicians and craftsmen. On Ivan's death (1696) he became sole tsar, and embarked on a series of sweeping military, fiscal, administrative, educational, cultural, and ecclesiastical reforms, many of them based on W European models. He brought the boyars under the authority of Church and throne; encouraged industry, trade, and education; modernized the state administration; and introduced Arabic numerals into the Russian alphabet. During his reign the first Russian-language newspaper was published and the Academy of Sciences was established. All classes of society suffered from the impact of the reforms and the brutality of their implementation; his own son, Alexis, died under torture (1718), suspected of leading a conspiracy against his father. Nevertheless, his efforts to modernize Russia turned it from a backward country into an empire to be feared. Peter fought major wars with the Ottoman empire, Persia, and in particular Sweden, which Russia defeated in the Great Northern War (1700-21). This victory established Russia as a major European power, and gained a maritime exit on the Baltic coast, where Peter founded his new capital, St Petersburg (1703). He failed to nominate a successor, and was succeeded by his wife, Catherine I.

Peter I may refer to the following:

Rulers:

King Peter I Karađorđević of Serbia, later Peter I King of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (i.e. of Yugoslavia) Latin Emperor Peter I of Constantinople Peter I the Great of Russia, last Tsar and first Emperor Czar Peter I of Bulgaria King Peter I (the Cruel) of Castile King Peter I of Aragon and Navarre King Peter I of Valencia, i.e. King Pedro III of Aragon Peter I of Cyprus Peter I of Portugal Emperor Peter I of Brazil who declared independence (after, crowned as King Pedro IV of Portugal) Peter I, Duke of Bourbon Peter I, Duke of Brittany Count Peter I of Barcelona=Catalonia, i.e. King Pedro II the Catholic of Aragon Count Peter I of Savoy

Religious hierarchs:

Patriarch Peter I of Alexandria

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title.